I research the visualization of diagrams that represent complex interactions.
In particular, Euler Diagrams and Graphs have interesting properties and are applied in great
variety of areas. I also study graph data mining methods and applications of artificial intelligence to visualization and data mining.

Schematic Visualization

As a
Royal Society Industrial Fellow, I worked in collaboration with
INRIX Media. This
work developed automatic techniques for drawing public transport
schematics, sometimes called the metro map layout problem. The result was a web service
allowing schematic layout tools to be accessed remotely, so potentially helping
travellers navigate on public transport systems.

A generator for linear diagrams is currently under development, see the Linear Diagram Generator.
These diagrams have recently been shown to be more effective than either Venn or Euler diagrams for representing some
set-based problems. Work exploring the practical and theorectical capabilities of linear diagrams is currently under way.

I am always interested in supervising new research students in
the above areas, as well as in other research topics related to
visualization. Scholarships, that include both fees and living expenses are available. If you would like to discuss starting a PhD, please
email me: P.J.Rodgers@kent.ac.uk.

Teaching

I have taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level on a variety of
subjects over the years. Currently I am teaching on an undergraduate second year
databases module and an MSc web programming module.